Friday, July 31, 2015

Editor's Note: The following is a post relating to the author's being in a play. This, after moving to another part of the country from New York. There will be more posts as the show develops.

There's no way I can say all of this in 5 counts of
8. I said to myself. No matter how fast I delivered it, it just didn't
work. I would have to burn through a line like, "Give yourselves a round
of applause." in order to make it fit into the music break. And that was
without waiting for the applause! No, I thought to myself, this will just not
work.

I called my son up to my office, and asked him to try it.
He's a veteran with over thirty shows under his belt. If he couldn't do it, it
couldn't be done. If he could do it, then my worst fears would be confirmed.
I'm just a noob with no business being in this show. (Actors and their neuroses...
sheesh!). I then realized that just feeling that that was a possibility made me
a noob anyway. I had to shake myself and remember that I was chosen for this
part.

My son listened to the music once through, and told me that
half of my lines in this particular scene came before the music even started. I
felt as though a great weight was lifted. I had plenty of time to deliver a
nuanced and brilliant performance. Now, all I had to do was make that happen.

Rehearsal went well. I pointed out the music thing, and
found that I did indeed have a ton of time to do it right. So much time, in
fact, that I could slow it down a little and really get into it. It was a
blast.

There are still a few
things I need to work on, (like, everything about my performance), so, work I
shall. But, I feel so much better about the chance I have to do well in this
show.

Now, if I could just nail that vocal part in that song in
act two...

Full act rehearsals start next week, and we still have a few
small incidental roles that, to my knowledge, haven't been filled yet. I wonder
who will have to double up and jump in to play the cab driver, the TV reporter,
etc.

The set is really coming along and looks wonderful. I have
designed a few backgrounds for shows, so I can appreciate the craftsmanship
that goes into these things. It really does look great. I can't wait to see the
lighting design with this set. I'm sure it will be truly a sight to see.

Twenty days. Twenty days until we open for a ten show run.
The clock is ticking. I can't wait!

Tuesday, July 21, 2015

Editor's Note: The following is a post relating to the author's being in a play. This, after moving to another part of the country from New York. There will be more posts as the show develops.
"1-2-3-and!". Flap, flap, flap. "You have lines here." Flap, flap, flap.

That sound was me frantically flailing at pages in the script, trying to find where we were. I had been doing that for a while by this point, but the music coming from the piano had been masking it. Now, as the Musical Director was waiting for me to catch up, it became somewhat more apparent to the other fifteen people in the room. I didn't realize that the lines I had rehearsed so diligently came in the middle of a song. As I know now, that's why they are written on a page where everything else is in all caps.

Not knowing how to read music is a bit of a hindrance, but certainly not a deal breaker. I do know how to count, after all, so it doesn't take much for me to fall into line. However, when things get hectic, when songs are sung in a round, where conversations occur while there are, "whoo!'s" and "yeah!'s" going on, it doesn't take much for me to fall out of line.

Thankfully our Musical Director is patient.

Like when he says, "Someone is changing keys on the second line." Well, thanks for the cover, but we all know that it was me. Or, at least, it feels like everyone knows. I feel like I'm sitting on the ledge of a building, watching myself down below. Watching myself enshrine my amateur status for all the world to see. In my head, I know that I'm no amateur. Seeing and hearing what's coming out of my mouth, though...

Blocking is easier. This part I understand. Enter from stage left. Cross to center, speak. move around to here, speak. This I get. I know my lines cold for this scene. I have a system for learning and remembering lines. I won't bore you with my personal approach, but, suffice to say, I've got this. I love this part! I get to try out different inflections, different ways of emoting.
"Okay, say your line and exit stage right."

Shit.

The upshot is that there are some really talented people in this cast, and I can see from the way they approach things that it will be a pleasure to be a part of this show. I was lucky enough to run lines with one of the actors with which I share most of my scenes. She is utilizing a clipped, haughty accent, which is perfect for her part. When I remarked that it would be difficult for me to not slip into the same kind of accent, she remarked, "No! I like the New York thing you're doing."

I didn't realize I was doing a New York thing. I guess I have no choice but to do a New York thing.